Top European Court Rules
Against State-Backed Cartels

BRUSSELS -- Europe took a big step toward banning state-backed cartels Tuesday when a top court ruled that Italian companies that make safety matches can't divide up markets and fix prices.

The decision by the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice marks another move by the region's senior jurists against Europe's corporatist tradition that has nurtured cozy -- and frequently inefficient -- relations between governments and...